Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) Seeks Public's Help to Identify Remains

A Virginia family now knows what happened to their loved one who had been missing since June of 1996. Portsmouth authorities found the remains of this 20-year-old man in an abandoned cinder block factory. News reports showed the facial approximation (model) seen here and gave a description of the man, which resulted in his identification. The facial approximation represents the collaborative work between OCME and the FBI.

Welcome to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of Virginia

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is responsible for determining the cause and manner of deaths that occur under certain circumstances in Virginia. Every case we undertake has two equally important components: the emotional and practical issues of family members and the scientific aspects of the investigations we conduct.

By the nature of the work we do here, we have become especially sensitive to the needs of families. And we are acutely aware of the precise scientific analysis that law enforcement agencies require. Each member of the medical examiner’s staff is committed to providing the respect families deserve and the detailed information demanded by the legal community.

Our Web site provides helpful, easy-to-understand information about our processes, the medical and legal requirements of our job and medical and statistical reports. Please use the links at the left to learn about the medical examiner’s office and the steps you can take when and if we need to work together.